Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed freedom of navigation, maritime commerce and the safety of seafarers in talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in New Delhi.
The emphasis reflects India's direct exposure to maritime instability. Indian crews and trade routes are affected when conflict spills into the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman or the Red Sea, while higher shipping insurance and oil prices quickly feed into the domestic economy.
India and Iran also have a wider relationship built around connectivity, including Chabahar, regional access and trade. The challenge for New Delhi is to preserve those interests while maintaining relationships across the wider West Asia region.
